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But McGovern insists people should cut them some slack considering there have been huge changes at the club this season, with Heagney replacing Kevin Lawlor in the hotseat and a host of young players being introduced into the first team.

And with the Mac just 180 minutes away from landing one of Intermediate football’s biggest prizes, he insists those sharpening their knives and all too eager to write them off do so at their peril.

“We beat them at the start of the season but I missed that game so I’m looking forward to having a crack at them now,” said McGovern.

Immuculata manager Tony Heagney

“I’m sure they will be a well-drilled side so it’s not going to be easy for us but it’s not unfamiliar territory for us either, we’ve played all these big teams before.

“We had our targets at the start of the season and I don’t think the Intermediate was one of them but now that we are here, it’s a priority now.

“This season has been something we haven’t been used to, we have had a lot of losses this year, and we lost a lot of senior players too, but we have a young team here and people are thinking we are finished but we are far from finished.

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After spending most of the season in unfamiliar surroundings down around the bottom of the table, Saturday’s win catapulted the Mac up into seventh place.

And McGovern reckons his club can now realistically set their sights on breaking into the top four.

“I think we are starting to see the old Mac again,” he said.

“At the start of the season we weren’t really getting the numbers at training and we paid the price for it.

“But we pulled a players’ meeting there a couple of weeks ago and we have won every match since it, so I’m starting to see glimpses of proper team performances, everyone working hard for each other and that’s what the Mac is all about.

“And we can still finish this season with a lot of positives. We can get ourselves a lot more points between now and the end of the season and finish high up there in the league, and we could finish it with the Intermediate Cup, so that would still be a good season in my eyes.”

McGovern lost his beloved father late last month and, in a tweet, dedicated his two goals on Saturday to him.

“Brilliant performance from the Mac men today, another three points on the board,” he posted. “A wee brace under the belt, that’s for you daddy.”